McGrath, you're right that Thatcher couldn't have done this much harm if people hadn't voted for her in the first place. As to smoking, you're not quite right. There is at least one folksinger who's never smoked, but forty years of inhaling other people's smoke have permanently damaged his lungs.
Dead Horse, I don't believe it's a cover-up. If they couldn't silence her before, they couldn't now. She must have a very good reason. Maybe she's worse than they let on. Still, I wouldn't wish suffering on anybody - not even Mrs Thatcher!